Haryana Police has announced Rs 10,000 award for the arrest of accused

Kaithal : Police on Tuesday registered a case against two unknown suspects based on allegations by a Sikh businessman that he was called a ‘Khalistani’ and attacked on Monday night by two bike-borne assailants suspected under the influence of liquor. The charges of insulting religious beliefs and criminal intimidation were invoked in the first information report registered on the complaint of Sukhwindar Singh who owns a furniture showroom in Kaithal city. The victim bleeding heavily alleged that he was thrashed and called a ‘Khalistani’ by motorcycle-borne youths when he was heading home on his scooter. SP Kaithal Upasana expressed deep concern over the unfortunate incident and a five member SIT led by Gurvinder Singh DSP was constituted to probe matter and arrest the accused. A reward for amount Rs 10,000 was announced for the arrest of the accused. Police obtained footage of a CCTV camera on which two youths were seen travelling on a motorcycle.

The SGPC, Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal condemned the incident, calling for immediate action against the culprits. Police said the man alleged that he was attacked while he was waiting at a railway level-crossing here for a train to pass. There was an argument between the man and the two youths when vehicles started moving after the crossing’s gates were opened. Talking to media persons on Tuesday, Sukhvinder Siungh, who was hospitalised, said that they abused me and called me a Khalistani. One person got down from the motorcycle and hit me with bricks when some youth (later identified as  Raju Dhull Pai) intervened and saved him from the two youths who fled from the spot. The man claimed that he did not know who the youths were and he was not able to see the registration plate of the motorcycle properly.

Police, which reached the hospital where he was admitted, have registered a case of assault against two unidentified men. Civil Lines Kaithal Police Station Inspector Sheelavati said the case was registered on a complaint by the man when police visited the hospital. The inspector said the medical report of the complainant revealed that he had also consumed alcohol. Meanwhile, Haryana SGPC president Bhupinder Singh Asandh and former jathedar Baljit Singh  Daduwal have demanded that the police immediately arrest the culprits, saying that police registered FIR after about 18 hours. They said, it is not a question of a caste or community since anti-social elements have tried to spoil relations between communities under a conspiracy.

 Meanwhile, HSGPC honored Raju Dhull Pai with ‘Siropa’ who had saved Sukhvinder Singh. They said this incident has hurt the sentiments of the entire Sikh community. So, the Haryana government should take it seriously and ensure the safety of Sikhs living in the state. “It is the responsibility of the government to protect the religious freedom and rights of people of every class, every religion and every community in the country as such strict action must be taken against those who go against the Constitution of the country and create a hateful and communal atmosphere”, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal urged Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini to take exemplary action against the culprits.